[2] These bacteria can also produce a thick walled, cylindrical, spore like structure known as akinetes, which also demonstrate variation in morphology.

[2] This first toxin, cylindrospermopsin, has the ability to affect the liver and kidneys in humans as well as cause mild skin reactions upon exposure.

Research has shown that C. raciborskii can naturally produce butylated hydroxytoluene, an antioxidant, food additive, and industrial chemical.

They are often called the blue-green algae stemming from the Greek origins of the word kyanós, meaning blue.

Under environmental stresses such as cool temperatures or low nutrients the bacteria has the ability to form its spore like structure known as akinetes.

These akinetes can persist in sediment for long periods of time, and are able to germinate once water temperatures rise to the appropriate level.

[2] The bacteria prefers temperatures ranging from 25–30 °C, light intensity of 80–121 μmol m-2 s-1, and a max salinity concentration of 4 g L-1 NaCl.

It has also been linked to fish kills in Brazil, cattle death in Australia, reduction of zooplankton in Florida, as well as toxicity to some shellfish, which it accumulates in organisms such as crawfish.

The lack of photosystem II would normally prevent it from photosynthesizing, but the vegetative cells provide the necessary carbohydrates, which is thought to be sucrose.

The mechanism of controlling this nitrogen fixation pathway is thought to involve the diffusion of an inhibitor of differentiation called patS.

The appearance of cyanobacteria in water storage bodies is becoming of increasing importance and is a major factor in the eutrophication of rivers and streams.

The population dynamics is highly dependent on lake water temperature and underwater light intensity and thus on climatic conditions.

In 1979, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii was attributed with causing hepatoenteritis (an infection of the liver resembling hepatitis) in 148 people off the northern coast of Queensland at Palm Island.

[9] The contamination of drinking water was attributed to copper sulfate treatment in the island's drinking-water supply, Solomon Dam.